› Forums › General Melanoma Community › New stage III diagnosis
- This topic has 16 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by
JerryfromFauq.
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- July 15, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Hey everybody! I was diagnosed as a stage 3 last week. Waiting on my PET scan results. I had a large melanoma removed from the back of my leg just below the knee. I now have a hole the size of a hockey puck in that area. I also have an enlarged lymph node in my groin, but it’s also infected, so they have to wait a bit to do a biopsy there. I had a CAT scan of most of my body while I was an inpatient, they didn’t see anything of concern. I also had an MRI of my head, also nothing there(hehehe). So now I am just playing the waiting game that so many of you have done.Hey everybody! I was diagnosed as a stage 3 last week. Waiting on my PET scan results. I had a large melanoma removed from the back of my leg just below the knee. I now have a hole the size of a hockey puck in that area. I also have an enlarged lymph node in my groin, but it’s also infected, so they have to wait a bit to do a biopsy there. I had a CAT scan of most of my body while I was an inpatient, they didn’t see anything of concern. I also had an MRI of my head, also nothing there(hehehe). So now I am just playing the waiting game that so many of you have done. Next week I have appointments with plastic surgery, oncology, and surgical oncology.
I let my melanoma fester for WAY too long. It became an open wound, got infected(Staph aureus). What made me finally seek treatment was after the second of two camping trips in June, there were MAGGOTS living in it! I sat down to go to the bathroom and noticed something white hanging out of my melanoma. At first I thought it was puss, so I wiped it with some alcohol and it moved! Then I got some tweezers and contorted myself so I could get in there. I pulled out 6 maggots, woke up my wife and went to Northwestern Memorial in Chicago. So now I am starting the process of putting myself back together. Not focusing on why I didn’t seek treatment earlier. I have grown tired of doctors, nurses, friends, and family asking me why I didn’t tell someone earlier, I want to focus on the future and positive things, not the past and negativity.
So hello, nice to meet you fellow melanoma’ers. I’m ready to join you in the battle against melanoma. I’ll be receiving treatment at Northwestern and feel very confident with the medical staff there, they were fabulous during my 5 day stay as an inpatient.
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- July 15, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Sorry you had to come here, Tom, but also glad you found this forum. It is full of wonderful people – some of whom know A LOT about melanoma and graciously share their knowledge.
I hope someone on the board is also being treated at N'Western and can provide insight.
You're right, focus on the treatment plan. Past is past. Please keep us posted on your treatment.
Fen
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- July 15, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Sorry you had to come here, Tom, but also glad you found this forum. It is full of wonderful people – some of whom know A LOT about melanoma and graciously share their knowledge.
I hope someone on the board is also being treated at N'Western and can provide insight.
You're right, focus on the treatment plan. Past is past. Please keep us posted on your treatment.
Fen
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- July 15, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Hi Tom,
I feel bad because I did torture my husband a bit for not telling me or showing me the melanoma on his back. Most people are not really thinking they are going to get melanoma so you are right to move forward, doing the would have should have game doesn't get you anywhere.
There are a lot of great people on this site that can help you with advice.
Good luck.
Rebecca
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- July 15, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Hi Tom,
I feel bad because I did torture my husband a bit for not telling me or showing me the melanoma on his back. Most people are not really thinking they are going to get melanoma so you are right to move forward, doing the would have should have game doesn't get you anywhere.
There are a lot of great people on this site that can help you with advice.
Good luck.
Rebecca
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- July 15, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Hi Tom –
Sorry to have to 'meet' you here… but you're right. You can't focus on why you didn't have it checked sooner. I thought the same thing – and especially since a year prior to having my mole removed I actually asked my primary doctor about the spot on my back and she said 'it's nothing don't worry about it'. Until it started to grow like crazy – and even then my dermatologist told me over and over again it was nothing. It was for sure something!
But we can't dwell on that – we have to get our fighting gloves on and get the game plan together. Sounds like you are in good hands.
Erin
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- July 15, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Hi Tom –
Sorry to have to 'meet' you here… but you're right. You can't focus on why you didn't have it checked sooner. I thought the same thing – and especially since a year prior to having my mole removed I actually asked my primary doctor about the spot on my back and she said 'it's nothing don't worry about it'. Until it started to grow like crazy – and even then my dermatologist told me over and over again it was nothing. It was for sure something!
But we can't dwell on that – we have to get our fighting gloves on and get the game plan together. Sounds like you are in good hands.
Erin
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- July 15, 2011 at 3:24 pm
I waited 8 years before having my melanoma removed. The 1st mole was removed and came back benign and a year later the mole started growing back. I was not worried about it because the 1st mole was fine. I am stage 3C now. If I would have had it checked out sooner it may not have spread to my lymph nodes, but like others have said, I did not think melanoma. Now I just focus on the future and fighting this terrible beast. Interferon treatments end in September and as far as I know I am NED. This is a very good web site and there are a lot of knowledgeable people on here. It does help with so much going on so quickly. Good luck to you!
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- July 15, 2011 at 3:24 pm
I waited 8 years before having my melanoma removed. The 1st mole was removed and came back benign and a year later the mole started growing back. I was not worried about it because the 1st mole was fine. I am stage 3C now. If I would have had it checked out sooner it may not have spread to my lymph nodes, but like others have said, I did not think melanoma. Now I just focus on the future and fighting this terrible beast. Interferon treatments end in September and as far as I know I am NED. This is a very good web site and there are a lot of knowledgeable people on here. It does help with so much going on so quickly. Good luck to you!
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- July 15, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Uh, gross!! Just like a MAN to wait until maggots are in the melanoma 🙂
My sister is coming to Colorado today and they will be camping in the Rockies. I must tell her to look out for maggots when going potty!! Ha Ha.
Hope you have a good sense of humor. You must have, if you actually told the maggot story. We all need a good laugh every day and this is mine!
Nicki, Stage 3b
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- July 15, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Uh, gross!! Just like a MAN to wait until maggots are in the melanoma 🙂
My sister is coming to Colorado today and they will be camping in the Rockies. I must tell her to look out for maggots when going potty!! Ha Ha.
Hope you have a good sense of humor. You must have, if you actually told the maggot story. We all need a good laugh every day and this is mine!
Nicki, Stage 3b
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- July 15, 2011 at 11:32 pm
Hi Tom,
Yep, know all about that putting off and putting off, though thankfully mine never reached the maggot stage! Is that a new stage prior to the official "1"?
Glad you're in a good place and you're feeling confident…and still married! Definitely focus on the future and all things positive…goodness knows I wouldn't want to think about the past either if I were you!
Welcome and God bless Tom!
Lord, in Your mercy, thank You for Tom, his honesty, humor, and positive attitude. Help him retain all of that and bless him in this journey. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Carol
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- July 15, 2011 at 11:32 pm
Hi Tom,
Yep, know all about that putting off and putting off, though thankfully mine never reached the maggot stage! Is that a new stage prior to the official "1"?
Glad you're in a good place and you're feeling confident…and still married! Definitely focus on the future and all things positive…goodness knows I wouldn't want to think about the past either if I were you!
Welcome and God bless Tom!
Lord, in Your mercy, thank You for Tom, his honesty, humor, and positive attitude. Help him retain all of that and bless him in this journey. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Carol
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- July 18, 2011 at 12:45 am
Tom, after that story, I don't think I'll admit as to what my first name is. Are you a US Marine? I know they told us that flies and maggots were a good way to clear out decaying flesh, but I thought that was reserved for situations that we couldn't get to the medics! I didn't get to the maggot stage with my melonama, but the GP did ignore it until it was smelly and I went to a new GP in the practice. Aafter my first two operations is whn my groin lymph nodes stasrted growing. One rapidily. The new GP tried two weeks of antibiotics and the swelling lymph node continued growing so he sent me back to a local surgeon. It was golfball size and black when removed. MEL. Here's pulling for yours just being the infection. If the antibiotics aren't reducing the size get it checked further. Removing one supercificial lymph node isn't rough. I went shopping with my wife the rest of the day. At that time I didn't know the word ONCOLOGIST. Never wanted to!
You don't sound like a guy that freaks out too readilly, BUT do be vigalent. Change should be checked out from now on.
Good luck and keep us informed.
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- July 18, 2011 at 12:45 am
Tom, after that story, I don't think I'll admit as to what my first name is. Are you a US Marine? I know they told us that flies and maggots were a good way to clear out decaying flesh, but I thought that was reserved for situations that we couldn't get to the medics! I didn't get to the maggot stage with my melonama, but the GP did ignore it until it was smelly and I went to a new GP in the practice. Aafter my first two operations is whn my groin lymph nodes stasrted growing. One rapidily. The new GP tried two weeks of antibiotics and the swelling lymph node continued growing so he sent me back to a local surgeon. It was golfball size and black when removed. MEL. Here's pulling for yours just being the infection. If the antibiotics aren't reducing the size get it checked further. Removing one supercificial lymph node isn't rough. I went shopping with my wife the rest of the day. At that time I didn't know the word ONCOLOGIST. Never wanted to!
You don't sound like a guy that freaks out too readilly, BUT do be vigalent. Change should be checked out from now on.
Good luck and keep us informed.
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